SHILLONG, Feb 17: At a time when the neighbouring state of Assam has announced setting up of as many as five more medical colleges throughout that state in addition to the eight existing hospitals, Meghalaya which is celebrating 50 years of statehood is yet to get its first medical college with the Tura Medical College still under construction and the Shillong Medical College existing only on paper.
Almost 10 years after the state government signed an MoU with a Kolkata-based firm for construction of the Shillong Medical College-cum-Hospital, the project is yet to officially commence.
When contacted, a government official said things will be clearer in two weeks’ time as far as the Shillong Medical College is concerned since the government is looking into the aspect of viability gap funding, resources and even some partners for the project.
On the progress made so far in the Tura Medial College project, the official said that construction work was going on.
Health Minister, James PK Sangma said regular review meetings were being held to start the Shillong Medical College at the earliest and admitted that the government was facing several issues with both the projects.
He said that the contractor was facing problem in sourcing raw materials for construction work in Tura and added that the government was on the job to resolve the issue.
He also made it clear that the contractors had faced multiple issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic and hence a one-year extension has been given to the contractor to complete the Tura Medical College.
It may be mentioned that Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma had announced in 2020 that construction work for Tura Medical College will be completed by July 2021.
Last year, the division bench of the High Court of Meghalaya has asked the state government to seriously explore the possibility of setting up a medical college in Meghalaya to address the healthcare needs of the citizens of the state. The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation on deficiencies in health services in Meghalaya.
As far as the Shillong Medical College is concerned, the foundation stone was laid on the TB Hospital premises in Jhalupara but the state government later decided to shift the site from Jhalupara to Umsawli in New Shillong Township.
While the two medical colleges in Meghalaya are staring at an uncertain future, Guwahati is all set to get its second medical college with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently laying the foundation stone for a new medical college in the city, to be constructed at a cost of nearly Rs 1,000 crore.
In spite of 50 years of statehood, citizens from Meghalaya still travel to Guwahati for medical treatment since NEIGRIHMS and other government and private hospitals in Shillong and elsewhere in the state are unable to cater to an ever-growing number of patients.
